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In the last 36(ish) hours I flew out to Denver and back to check in on a friend that had a particularly rough second half of 2025 along with three other friends. When we learned he wasn't going to be able to come out east during the holidays we decided it was time to head west. So yesterday I got up at 4am, drove through the snow to Boston, hung out for 24hrs and flew back this evening. I am, exhausted.

I've going over my collection, filling in any items I'm missing, I felt I really should have a modernized version of the Sigma. I came across a rather abused normal bias set which needed new drivers but wanted to try something different... so here is the SR-Sigma 507: The housing was very discolored so I wanted to try my hand at painting it. The frame was primed and painted satin black but I left all of the other parts in the primer color. The plan was to make them gloss white but this looked too cool so this is how they stayed. The drivers and cable are from a 507 so it took a lot of work to get this right. The drivers are in the cage that Stax introduced with the x07 series so I glued the drivers and fitted spare metal grills to them. In terms of sound, this is the best Sigma I've ever heard. The bass is overblown, as is always the case with Sigma's, but it has some real power to it and is more controlled than every other I've heard. The top end is nice and clean and the midrange is just sublime. A fun addition to the collection.

I managed to build few T2 in the past few years. Just sharing pics how T2 fits in Modushop Dissipante 400 enclosure. Many thanks to Mr. Gilmore and HC community

I have been wanting a MOPAR B-body restomod for some time. Thought I would buy a partly built project or the like and built to suit. Couldn't pass up this 1969 Road Runner that was on auction and local. The wheels could use some work, but such is life... Not much of a show car guy so I need to put some miles on her... HS

Went from Via To They say that moving is a major life stressor. I can believe it. It's almost like I feel a year older! Time for bed!

Thanks, all! I was doing exactly what you could guess I’d be doing on my birthday!

After mornings outside when the temps are in the 30s I could get used to going out when it is already 70 at dawn in Hawaii.

Oh you heard about the Accent wall in the lounge? Lighter/ Darker / Shorter / Longer ? Previous short / long comparison OK long it is, But Rich Cream? Or Desert Tan? The Correct Answer, as always, is: Yes, Dear.

As a follow up. We did have a great talk. He was completely unaware of how offensive I took it. He also quoted me back to me, when I told him that gay men love gay jokes more than anyone. After I explained my experience with that hellish disease he actually started tearing up and apologized profusely. He really had no idea. He even gave me a hug, which cemented that he didn't mean to offend me in any way. I'm too sensitive about that subject, I'm certain. But all is well.

Slowly but surely continuing to improve. I've got a long way to go before I can challenge Nate for FTW (w/kg I have no chance), but its amazing how much a little bit of regular riding improves your cardio.

Peter Doig built a sound system using parts from old cinemas and then Brian Eno did a DJ set on it.

And after all that headed down to Burlingame to catch up with Joannes tall Australian nephew to hear all about his project work for Nvidia before catching the red eye back to New York. He very kindly gave us his'n'hers house warming gifts from Joannes sisters and himself. Also spotted in Burlingame

Way late but I don't get 'round these parts as often as I should. Thank you for the kind wishes. It was a nice birthday.

Turned out nice.

(or rather what the painter did today)

blankets.mp4

This is my latest to add to the growing collection, I think a may have a problem... oh well. This is a Simon Marty guitar, it features his innovative radial bracing, the back and sides are ancient Huon pine, salvaged before a dam flooded a valley, estimated between 1000 -1500 years old, the neck is Australian rosewood and the top is spruce.

You Wish.

Dinner tonight was at Javalina Indigenous Dining at it was excellent. We had a variety of dishes but the only one I snapped was the elk fry bread with a significant pile of pulled elk, arugula and pickled onions on fry bread. Delicious. At the front counter, there was a basket of whistles for anti-ICE protests and support of the targets of this fascist aggression.

I started a GoFundMe for myself. I almost called it, "Help Me Not Join ICE", but there is absolutely no risk of me joining ICE. I'm just like them, except I don't hate immigrants, non-Caucasians, or women. I do hate & rage -- at pedophiles, predators, human traffickers, drug lords, organized crime, scammers and grifters. https://www.gofundme.com/f/nxzsm-help-peter-get-back-on-his-feet/cl/o?utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_tc&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&lang=en_UShttps://www.gofundme.com/f/nxzsm-help-peter-get-back-on-his-feet/cl/o?utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_tc&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&lang=en_UShttps://www.gofundme.com/f/nxzsm-help-peter-get-back-on-his-feet/cl/o?utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_tc&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&lang=en_US&attribution_id=sl%3A5974c743-384d-4b16-bc0e-0f1a102d6f3d&ts=1770472529 Here is the Facebook post, if anyone cares to like/boost visibility/share there: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1E1YCwS6ar/ I realize the last time y'all gave me money may have left a bad taste in many of y'all's mouths, but any spreading of the word would be appreciated. Even a small amount ($13?) would help lend credibility, when strangers later see this.

Damn you LAiV. Just after I’m satisfied with your Harmony µDDC and µDAC you release a new, cheap combo DAC-headphone amp. Yo Rob!

Wow. OK, so at least now I know that he was repeating something he heard. And probably not something he meant as a direct attack aimed at me personally. It's still incredibly poor judgement, but that's much easier to navigate than the alternative. This morning when my direct manager came into work, he immediately asked how I was feeling, and said he'd been worried about me since I escaped early the day before. We went somewhere private and I told him some things that I'd gone through during the AIDS epidemic that might bring some understanding to my emotional breakdown. Some of those I've never spoken to anyone about. I don't want to elaborate on that here, but a lot of my issues stem from survivors guilt. You think you're beyond events that happened 40 years ago and out of the blue something triggers you all over again. He was incredibly sympathetic and completely understood how that could affect me the way it did. He's straight, but "California straight", which is to say very insightful and dismissive of anyone who isn't. I explained to him that I decided I didn't want to take this event any further. I didn't want to admonish this young man, and I really didn't want to involve upper management. He respected those wishes, but he did suggest that tomorrow (Saturday), while all of the office staff and upper management were away for the weekend, he direct myself and this young man to a private office space. He told me that if I were willing for the two of us to have a private, civil conversation and explain some of the events that I'd discussed with him, and what triggered my response to the 'joke' he told, he thought this young coworker would be sympathetic and it might be a positive lesson to learn earlier as opposed to later. I'm not completely comfortable doing so, but I do think he's probably correct. And I don't want this to fester. As much for my own piece of mind than any other reason. We'll see how that goes, but I do suspect his instincts are good ones.

People at 18 can have their minds changed. Way more so than people at 50. It may not be something you can do, but there is at least hope something will click.

I don't know this kid, but I don't see the homophobic element to his stupid "joke." I think it demonstrates a racial commentary because AIDS in Africa really wasn't about the gay community. I think he was just mocking Africans. Regardless, I don't see why you wouldn't tell him how offensive it was and make clear you don't approve of or accept that kind of comment. If he truly feels that way, he doesn't deserve your affection or attention.

Smoked bologna

From last night. I was dysregulating last night something fierce, so I performed one of my comfort activities -- learning to wok.

Dusty, half this family isn't Jewish, but they bought in....to celebrating Jewish family and events, as well as the Shiva mourning. Call it Shiva or not, to me it's a good thing. There is a lot of formality to a Shiva, many times it is not followed 100%. Personally, I find it the beginning of healing. Family and friends come to pay respect, connect, tell stories, and eat. The formal period is 7 days/nights. When Karen passed, I was tearfully surprised by one of my two best friends flying in from California and spending all the days/nights of Shiva visiting (3 days for us). It's that type of love and connection that helps the healing. It's just a good thing, no matter what it's called, what religion it follows, etc.

I meant kick-start the HC travel team back into being, whether or not Marc has Red Oxx bags.

Two meals from the new year. First up is a chicken dish from Samin Nosrat's Good Things cookbook. I don't think I've ever had a cookbook recipe come out looking this close to the photo. It was also delicious, along with the saffron rice Claire made and a Samin salad with tomatoes, cucumbers and quick pickled red onion. Last night was the first pizza of 2026, in the form to a Detroit style with pepperoni, red bell pepper and mushroom. I need to find a local source for brick cheese.

Squeaking in under the wire with birthday greetings in your new home! Hope you had a great day of usuals and nibbles and such! Cheers! 🥤

Dan Tyminski Band (Man of Constant Sorrow) Bijou Theater Knoxville he puts on a good show

It’s alive! Getting the offsets adjusted is so touchy…finally got it below 2mv as it drifted about. Did it without heatsinks after being on for a while. It seems to settle in around 14ma with the LTST-C170CKT LEDs and the 402R. Running 240R vice the 255R. Will likely let this cook for a while and see if it needs any tweaks. That front panel light is a bit bright…may need to tone that down a bit… 🤓

Smoky Moroccan Chickpea Soup (formerly Stew) a la Mishka Makes Food

Mal Waldron's Breaking New Ground Ex. Suicide is Painless (M*A*S*H) https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/03/arts/music/mal-waldron-jazz-music.html?unlocked_article_code=1.HFA.-b1C.SIYIipEJh-Y8&smid=nytcore-ios-share

William Eggleston’s Lonely South https://archive.ph/2026.01.24-204543/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/william-egglestons-lonely-south https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/william-egglestons-lonely-south

Courtney Marie Andrews - Valentine https://open.qobuz.com/album/hny90dvm03jlc She has a, Joni Mitchell, Aimee Mann, expressive innocence, and her songwriting is equally great. It grows on you the more you listen as well. Simply put, I has a new favorite.

Just so good.

Few more from the SSD

I tried a new biscuit recipe. It's better and simpler than my stock recipe.

Thanks for the Birthday wishes everyone. The day was taken up with moving and it's aftermath. Had to look away when the movers decided it was easier to heave various pieces up and over the deck than navigate up a flight of stairs, but they are the professionals 🤷‍♂️ Then out for a Birthday Meal at a highly rated local dining establishment https://maps.app.goo.gl/3axzZPydB9u67P9y5 While we waited for a commercial sized load of bedding to be washed. Tasty Large portions, enough for lunch the following day. Brent would have felt at home.

I have been going down the anamorphic rabbit hole for ages now. The more I learn, the less I know. I have discovered some fascinating bits of trivia along the way. This guy's 🇫🇷 accent is something else, but the camera is spectacular in its insanity. Also, Cool Story Bro: the fence at the 4 minute mark in the video is a rather famous one in Paris. A guy I know on Flickr photographed it in 2006 with an 85L. Note the 1/8000 shutter speed. His 5D classic was crying.

Introducing the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome

Great, now I'm hungry for a Bit O Honey!

Couple from last night.